Rivers missed all of the 2011 season with a wrist injury and has been adequately replaced by Thomas Howard, making his presence on the roster superfluous.

The Bengals have a solid linebacking corps as it is, and could look to supplement it in the draft. Losing Rivers in a trade provides them with greater benefit—a draft pick—than Rivers would provide the team this season, where he'd likely ride the bench with Howard starting and Vincent Rey backing him up.

The Bengals also finally got the free agent they've been courting for some time.

The team came to agreement with veteran cornerback Terence Newman today, according to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

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2011 wasn't Terence Newman's best season but he'll serve as depth on the Bengals' roster this year

The former first-round selection for the Dallas Cowboys will serve as more veteran depth in a secondary that apparently needs it and does not preclude the team from taking another corner in this year's draft.

Newman is familiar with Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who was his coach in Dallas for four seasons.

The Bengals also formally announced another free-agent signing that was reported last week—offensive guard Jacob Bell—and said they also re-signed one of their own free agents in offensive tackle Dennis Roland.